Internal-combustion engine



Dec. 831925- 1565184 L. W. MILLER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Nov. 10, 1933 5 SheetS-Shet 1 L. w. MILLER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Dem 8,1925.

Fil e d mow o. 1923 s SheetS-Sht' 2 Days/1925- Y L. W. MILLER INTERNAL COMBUSTI 0N ENGINE Filed Nov 10, 1923 5Sheets-Sheet 3 DbcfS, 1925- 1.565.184

L. w. MILLER INTERNAL-COMBUSTIONYENGINE Filed Nov 10,1925 5 Sheets-Sheet s Zia/1 Patented wee, 8, lQZSQ INTERNAL-COMBUSTION Application filed November 10, 1923. Serial No. 674,938.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Lnorn W. citizen of the United States, residing at Bessemer, in the county State oi Pennsylvania, have invented cer tain nei and useful lrnprovernents in interrial-Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description of the invention. such as will enable others skilled in the art/to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The ohject of the present invention is the provision'of a motor wherein reciprocating motion is converted into rotary motion by means of a spiral or helical connection and which will admit of the conversion of rotary movement into a reciprocating movement.

The irwention particularly aims to coir vert a reciprocating movement into a rotary movement and to provide an organization including a plurality of. cylinders grouped about a shaft and pistons ad in the cylinders and having a spiral or helical connection with the rotary shaft.

Qther objects and advantages will he apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood.

"While the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to be understood m that in adapting the same to meet (litlerent conditions and requirements, various changes in the form. proportion and minor details of construction may be, resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application:

Figure l is a vertical central longitudinal section of a motor emhodvinz the invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 4w 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.. looking to the left as design nated by the arrows,

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 ct Figure 1*, showing, the parts on a larger scale and having the outer portion oi the manifold broken away;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of the valve mechanism on the line 55 of Figure 1, I I

Figure ,6 is a detail sectional view of the till f Lawrence and apted to operate valve mechanism on the line 6 6 of i Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing more clearly the valve mechanism,

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view of a portion of a working cylinder von the line 8-8 of Figure l- Figure 9 is a (let ail sectional view of the working end of a piston, v

Figure 10 is an end view of a piston,

Figure ll is a detail sectional viewers. the line ll-ll of Figure 1, showing the parts on a larger scale, 55

Figure l2 is a sectional view showing}; an antitrietion hearing hetwcen ad iacent cylinders,

Figure lfl is a view similar to Figure ll of a modification,

Figure 34 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Figure 13, the connecting hall being omitted,

Figure i5 is a view similar to Figure. ll of a: further modification,

Figure 16 is a sectional view on the line 16lt of Figure '15, and

Figures 17, 18 and 1.9 are detail views of a valve mechanism for a fluid medium such as steam or con'ipressed air.

Core espondingr and like parts are referred to in the "Following; deseri 'ition and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

ihe invention illustrated comprises two similar hlocks A and ii which are dispo'sed in axial alinement and which are Separated liy a partition (3, the block A. heine'ot slightly larger diameter than the block l i. 'ihese blocks by reason of their tune properly designated as the feed hlock A and the work hlock ll. the feed hlock receiving and compressing the fuel and supplying the sameit-o the work block in which the fuel is exploded and the h into the atmosphere.

lhe feed hlock ll con tains a plurality of cylinders 10 which are grouped ahout a shaft ll, shown most clearly in Figure Q. A piston 12 is provided on each of the cylinders 10 and has a rod 13 which terminates in a lateral enlargement 14. A spiral or helical guide lliis last to the shaft 11 and the several pistons 12 have connection therewith tl'irough the enlarge tion may 'he i urnt gases discharged 9 'As illustrated supported upon a plurality of balls 23 .mounted in a race formed in a ring 2 1 which 'is inserted in a recess in the extension of the piston. Figures 15 and 16 show the roll-v which is 'mounte connected with the shaft 11 in a similar manner to thejpistons 12. A spiral or helical guide 19, fast to the shaft 11 and reversely' disposed to the guide 15, has an antifriction connection with the rod of the piston 17. The stroke of the piston 12 is less than the stroke of the piston 17 and in consequence the inclination of the guide 15 is less than the inclination of the guide 19. Each of the aides 15 and 19 is grooved or channeled to receive the antifriction hearing which is partly seated in the groove or channel of the guide and a recess formed in' the extension of the piston. This connection may consist of a ball 20,1as shown most clearly in Figures 1, 11 and 13, or a roller 21, as illustrated in Figures 15 and 16. As shown-most clearly in Figure 11, the ball 20 may be seated in a recess formed in a block 22 set into the extension of the piston. in Figure,13, the ball 20 is ers 21 reduced at one end and surrounded by rollers 25 fitted in a recess formed in the extension of the piston, said rollers 25 and the roller 21 bein supported upon a plate 26 d upon balls 27.

Referring to Figure 12 of the drawings, it is observed that roller-bearings 28 are disposed in the partitions separating adjacent cylinders so as to minimize the friction be tween the pistons and cylinders and thereby prevent any waste of energy. Each of the rollers 28 is mounted upon a pin 29 and ball bearings 30 are interposed between the roller 28 and the pin'29 and the wall of the recess in which the roller 28 is fitted. It is observed that the roller 28 is common to ad jacent cylinders.

.A valve 31 is fast to the shaft 11 so as to rotate therewith and this valve is formed with a U-shaped passage 32 opening laterally thcrethrough upon opposite sides of the partition C and with cutaway portions 33 and 34 upon opposite sides and at opposite ends, whereby to provide intake and exhaust passages. A sleeve 85 snugly receives the valve 31 and forms a casing therefor and is fixed Within the axial openings of the blocks A and B and the partition 0. Corresponding openings 36 are formed" in the Walls of the valve casing and cylinders memes l0 and constitute ports for the outflow of the compressed gas from the cylinders 10 to the cylinders 16. Corresponding openings 3? are formed in the valve casing 35 and the An annular intake manifold 38 encircles" the engine block A and is connected with each of the cylinders 10 by means of radially disposed pipes 39 and ports 39 so as to supply fuel thereto from a suitable source 111 successive order, the admission of the fuel beingcontrolled by means of the valve 31. Radially disposed exhaust openings 1U are formed in the partition C and open at their outer ends into the atmosphere and are adapted to communicate at their inner ends with the cylinders 16. The openings 40 constitute auxiliary exhaust ports. Openings 41 formed in the outer side of each of the cylinders constitute the main exhaust ports for relieving the cylinders 16 of the major part of the burnt gases when thepistons 17 are at the limit of their outer or forward stroke. Spark plugs 42 are provided at the inner endsof the cylinders 16 to ignite the gaseous mixture when the pistons 17 are at the predetermined point oftheir return stroke.

Figures 17 and 18 disclose a rotary valve 41 which is adapted tolit the drive shaft 11 loosely. The inlet 42 of this valve may be magic of such a length so as to cut off the steam at any point in the length of the stroke of the piston so that the latter may be driven to the end of its stroke by expansion of the steam in a manner Well understood. The exhaust 43 may be of sufficient length to allow complete exhaust of the spent steam. Figure 19 shows a double-acting valve 4A havingv a'single exhaust 45 and two inlet ports 16. v

It will be understood from the foregoing taken in connection ,with the accompanying drawings that the engine is adapted to convert a reciprocating motio'n into a rotary motion. The gaseous mixture from a suitable source of supply is admitted into each of the cylinders 10 in rotation from the inlet manifold 38, the same being controlled by means of the valve 31. on the outstroke of a piston 12 the fuel is drawn into the cylinder 10 and on the instroke oi the piston 12, the fuel drawn into the cylinder 10 is compressed. As the piston 12 reaches the limit of its instroke, the valve 31 assumes a position to bring the port 32 in register ivith the ports '36 and 37 with the result that the compressed charge passes from the cylinder 10 into the cylinder 16. It is observed that the pistons 12 and 17 receive a synchronous inward and outward movement. As the till inrler will pass into the second compressed cherge pesscslrom the cylincler 1G into the cylincler 16, the piston 1'? is reaching the liuiitoff its instrolte and :it this time the volve ill assumes a positionto cut or; communication hetvreen the two cylinders ill noel l6 {incl on instent thereet'ter the gee-cone chcrge conteinesl in the cylinder 16 is ignited. and 'cpereteeto move the piston l? oulnvcrrl cool as the letter reaches the limit o'l' ontstrolre, the exhaust ii is non covered null the burnt gases escape therethrough inio the etmospher As the pie ion 17 hegine its return stroke it closes the eiiheust :21 anti at this time the velve 31 essumes e position to connect the nor with the opening i through the passage 34, thereby scavenging the c liuder 16 upon the continued inetrolie of tlie piston 17. As the piston 17 reaches the clan of its return stroke, the valve, 31 assumes a position to cut ofii the auxiliary exhaust and reestablish communicetionhetween the cylinders encl 18, whereby the letter is again charged and the charge explocled in the manner indicated.

a. reciprocatory movement and by reason of the spiral or helical connection between the pistons and the shafts 11, the latter has a rotary movement in pnrteti thereto.

What is claimed is: i L in an engine of the character specified, oppositely disposed longitudinally elineci cylinders, a partition separating the inner ends of the cylinders, pistons within the cylinders e. shaft at one side of the cylinders n spiral or helical. connection between the pistons eml shaft Wherehy opposed pistons receive a simultaneous movement inwardly or outwardly, and a valve mechanism for contnolling admission of e garcons mixture into one of the cylinders during the outstrolre of the piston therein and establishing communication between the two cylinders upon the insirolre of the pistons therein whereby the compressed charge drawn into the first cyliniier posses therefrom into the second or.

The pistons receive tier to he uplotleci therein drive the piston outwardly.

2. [in engine of .he character specified, comprising opposcl longitudinally aiined cylinders, n partition separating the cyl" imlcis curl hnvins auxiliary exhaust, therein. pistons niiin the cylinders, ti spiral connection licivveeu the pistons anti n slur??? disposed at one sitic thereof, 21ml e valve lllBClitllllt-Ell'l for concrolling the supply of miseous mixture to one of the cylincicrs upon l-he outstroli'e thereof anti establishing; com munication hetween'ihe two cylimlcrs Where by the eompressetl charge from the first cyl fifillillfii in which iizis ignited, the lost. i'i'tQiilZlOIlQll cylinrler'hiiving en Zilifililfl'fi which ii; c cci-c lo the oiston when reacliin f l l esirl valve iuechenism es'ieiiiiishn munication with the auxiliary exhaust whereby to scavenge the cyliiul'cr upon the return stroke of the piston.

13. An engine comprising u shell, opposwl longitudinally eliueil iiiiicks receiving the shaft, each block having corresponding; cylinders formed therein, the cylinders oi mic lilock being of lower (liumctmlhun ilu' cylinders oi the companion block, :L partition separating the cylinders uml having auxiliary exhaust ports therein, an intake immifold having connection with the inner curls of the larger cylinders, pistons within ihc cylinders, u spiral connection between the pistons and shell, and a valve mechanism operiihle with the shaft and adapted to control the intake and exhaust. the gaseous mixture heing zlruwn into the larcer cylinders anal compressed therein and lelivcrcd-thcrcfrom to the smaller cylinders in 'vvliicli combustion takes place ELTKlflOIIl which the burnt, gases are scavenged.

4. An engine of the character tlescrihcd having a, compression chamber and a firing chamber suhstantially in alinemcnt, a partition between said'chanihers, a rotatable shaft outwardly of said chambers, spiral driving connections between said pistons and said shaft, and valve means under control of said shaft to permit passage of compressed incl from the compression chamber past said partition to the firing cheml'ier.

An engine of the character described having a. compressing chamber eml a. firing chamber substantially in oi tion imtween said chambers, 21, rotatable shaft outwardly of said chambers, spiral. driving connections between said pistons and said shaft, and valve means under control of said shaft to permit passage of compressml fuel from the compression chamber past said partition to the firing chamlicr means to supply fuel to the compression cluimhen-tlie firing chamber having an exhaust passage through its Well, oncl sairl psru'ition having a passage constituting an. auxiliary exhaust for the tiring: chamber.

An; engine of the class tlescriheil having Wells therein providing connpression chemhers end firing chumbcrs said Wells terminating short of the end wells oil the engine, pistons movehlc in said chambers, spirally flroovei'l members a shaft carrying? said iiici'niiers and jonrnzilctl centrally with respect to said chambers, the pistons having means extending tlic-reicom and engaged in the spiral grooves 01'": said members, a partition lietween the compression chambers am firing chambers, seitl wells heving ports on opposite sides of said partition, e velve cerhy said shaft having passages theretl'irough whereby compressetl fuel may pess through the same encl seirl ports from the accession ehemhers to the firing cheminement, 2L perti-- Mill iii)

7. An engine of the class described having walls therein providing compression chain hens and tiring chambers, said Walls terminating short of the end walls 01 the engine, pistons movable in said chambers, spirally grooved members, a shaft carrying said members and jonrnnled centrally with respect to said chambers, the pistons having means extending therefrom and engaged in the spiral grooves of said members, tion between the compression cl'isimbeis and firing chambers, said Walls having ports on n. artimemes opposite sides of said pertitiome valve carried by said shaft having passages there through whereby compressed fuel may pass through the sameancl said orts from blue compression chambers to the firing chambers, the engine having exhaust; passages leading from the firing chambers, and passages in said partition serving as auxiliary "exhaust 20 outlets.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature:

LLOYD W. MILLER. 

